Law and Order Minister Sagala Ratnayaka had lashed out at IGP Pujith Jayasundara over the conduct of the Police in relation to the recent incidents in Kataragama, Asian Mirror learns. 

The Minister had pulled up the Police Chief and Secretary of the Law and Order Ministry P. Jayamanne yesterday in relation to the developments in Kataragama and expressed his strong disappointment with the conduct of the Police. 

The Minister had stressed that he gave clear instructions to the local Police authorities to work with the villagers to quell the situation. He had also condemned the conduct of the Police officer who shot a motorcyclist dead for defying orders to stop the vehicle. 

"The Police have no right to shoot people like this. This is not the first time this happened. It is your responsibility to discipline the Police force," Ratnayaka had said, berating the Police Chief. 

"When you repeatedly create messes of this nature, we, the political authorities, have to take the blame. [It's] High time you address this issue without further delay," he had said.

He had also stressed that stern action should be taken against all officers who assaulted the public mercilessly. 

The Minister had also said he would continue to monitor progress of the action taken by the Police Chief and the Secretary of the Law and Order Ministry in this regard.